Display cabinet corner structure



A ril 16, 1963 SNYDER DISPLAY CABINET CORNER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 2, 1961 \%MAM IQH u 3 t: 2 w, 3 m U Q m X H P N L w INVENTORm... m 6 h v t H s \WVHIIVIIIAWWI as 3 m April 16, 1963 l. SNYDERDISPLAY CABINET CORNER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1961United States Patent Omce Patented Apr. 16, 1963 The present inventionrelates to an improved cabinet for the display of merchandise which maybe used with or without a refrigerating unit.

One object of the invention is a provide an improved method inthe'construction of a display cabinet with a minimum of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet that may beconstructed with a minimum amount of labor and with labor having aminimum amount of mechanical ability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cabinet with animproved arrangement for securing the sides of the cabinet to the cornerposts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cornerpost for such a cabinet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet in whichthe top and bottom are interchangeable. 7 1

While several object of the invention have been pointed out, otherobjects, uses and advantages will become more apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully described which consists in its novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of its several parts as shownin the accompanying drawings and detailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the display case partly broken away toshow the track for receiving the sliding doors.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective sec tional view showingthe corner post and the base assembled therewith.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective sectional view of baseunit.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective sectional view of thetrack member.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective sectional view of thetrack member taken on line 66 of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which itis assembled with the lower cabinet wall.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of corner post.

In referring to the drawings like reference characters are used todesignate like and similar parts throughout the several views.

The cabinet is shown assembled in FIG. 1 and designated by the letter C.The cabinet is provided with a top 10 and a bottom 12. Supporting thecabinet are four vertical corner posts 14, 16, 18 and 20. Between thevertical sides of the posts there is provided Walls of any desiredstructure such as the end walls shown at 22 and 24 and a rear wall. Thefront or one side of the cabinet is provided with sliding doors 26 and28. The top, bottom and sides may be constructed of any desiredmaterials.

The preferred formof post, such as post P is formed from an aluminumextrusion. The post is provided with angular portions 16 and 16 formedat right angles to each other. On the inner adjacent sides of the postare extensions 30 and 32.

These members 30 and 32 are formed with element supporting ends 30 and32, and lip members 36 and 37 which are spaced from members 30' and 32to form shoulders 30 and 32", and which forms a channel for receivingthe ends of a member 34 adapted to receive a tie or, screw 36. Theportions 16 and 16 are adapted to support the edges of a side wall, asshown at 24 in FIGURE 2.

The top and bottom are constructed exactly alike, that is they may beinterchangeable. Referring to the bottom, the edge portions 12' areturned up at right angles to the bottom portion 12 and turned inwardlyat 12" parallel with the bottom portion 12 to form a shelf upon whichthe side sections such as 22 and 24 rest. There is a vertical portion12" joined at right angles to the portion 12' to be secured against theportions 30 and 32 of the post P by the screws 38 and 40. Beyond theportions 12" there is also formed on the base a relatively short turnedup lip 12x and 12y to strengthen the base in the corner sectionsembraced by the bottom of the post P. As the top is exactly like thebottom the top fits to the top of the posts P as described for thebottom. This arrangement allows for one set of forming jigs or dies forforming the bottom and top members.

Between the portions 12" of the bottom and top is the side and backmembers. These members are set against the portion 16 and 16 of the postas shown at 24 in FIG. 2 and are held in place by a band 42 whichextends over the opposite edge of the member 24 as shown in FIG. 2 andheld in place by the screw 36. The opposite end 42 of the band 42 issupported against the outer surface of the member 32 and is held inplace by the screw 44.

The doors are of the sliding type as shown at 26 and 28 in FIG. 1. Thesedoors slide within tracks 46 positioned upon and along the edges 12" ofthe bottom and top members. These tracks are preferably of plastic oraluminum extrusion as shown at E in FIGURES 5 and 6 and are adapted toengage the upper edges of the top and bottom portions as illustrated at12' and 12" in FIGURE 6. The same extrusion E is used to form the trackfor both the top and bottom edges of the door members.

The track extrusion is formed, as shown in FIGURE 5, having a horizontalcenter portion 50, side portions 51 and 52 and a center portion 53. Thesections of the extrusion extending above the horizontal center portion50 are shorter than these corresponding portions extending below theportion 50. This provides a track element that may be used for both thebottom and top runway for the sliding doors 26 and 28.

In FIGURE 6 the track is shown attached to the bottom, that is, it issecured to the portions 12' and 12" of the bottom member 12. Also shownis a lining member 54 attached to the portion 51 of the track E insubstantially the same manner as the bottom portions 12' and 12". Ifdesired the lower portion of the member may be removed, as shown at 55in FIG. 6. When the extrusion is used as the upper track on top portion10' etc. of the top 10, it is attached in the same position, that is,the short portions are secured to the top leaving the longer portions ofthe members 51, 52 and 53 extending downwardly to receive and guide theupper edges of the doors, as shown in FIGURE 1. For receiving the shockof the door when they reach the end of the track, there is provided aresilient member 49 extending vertically along the edge of the post.

A modified form of corner post is shown in FIGURE 7 in which the post isshown formed from a sheet of material, preferably aluminum. The post hastwo right angled portions 56 and 57 in cross-section, and a portion 58extending across and between the portions 56 and 57 for receiving ametal screw for holding the member 42 in place as shown in FIGURE 2 bythe screw 36. The member 58 taking the place of the member 34.

When assembled the cabinet has the appearance as shown in FIGURE 1. Thedoors are movable along the channels of the track formed between themembers 51, 52 and 53. The top and bottom are held to the corner postsby screws such as shown at 38 and 40 and the side sections are held atthe corner in place at the corner posts by members 42. By building apost of this type there is left a large area X as shown in FIGURE 2 andX as shown in FIGURE 7 for carrying electric wiring, refrigerating linesetc. from the bottom of the cabinet to any point along its height.

While the invention of the inventor has been described in detail for aparticular type cabinet, it is not intended as a limitation as the scopeof the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet of rectangular form having a top, bottom, side andcorner posts, each of the corner posts being integrally formed with twoflat angular similar sections formed at right angles to each other andhaving their inner edges spaced apart a second portion extendingoutwardly from the surfaces of each of the first mentioned angularsections and on the inside of the post for receiving means for retaininga holding element for the said side members, the top and bottom have adownwardly and upwardly turned portion about their respective perimetersand a portion extending inwardly from the upwardly turned portions ofthe bottom and the downwardly turned portions of the top adapted to lieadjacent the outer surface of the second extended portion of the postand attached thereto for supporting the top and bottom from the post.

2. A cabinet of rectangular form having a top, bottom, side and cornerposts for supporting the same, each of the corner posts integrallyformed having two flat similar sections formed at right angles to eachother and having their inner edges spaced apart adapted to fit about thecorner of the cabinet, said posts having a supporting portion forsupporting the top, bottom and sides of the cabinet spaced from theintersection of the two flat sections and from the outer edge of thesame, said supporting portion extending outwardly from the innersurfaces of the post sections and at right angles thereto, thesupporting portion being spaced outwards from the inner sections of thefiat post side sections to form an opening adjacent the intersections ofthe two post sections for accommodating electric wiring, piping andother utility lines, the top and bottom, have a downwardly and upwardlyturned portion about their respective perimeters and a portion extendinginwardly from the upwardly turned portions of the bottom and thedownwardly turned portions of the top adapted to lie adjacent the outersurface of the second extended portion of the post and attached theretofor supporting the top and bottom from the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN A CABINET OF RECTANGULAR FORM HAVING A TOP, BOTTOM, SIDE ANDCORNER POSTS, EACH OF THE CORNER POSTS BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH TWOFLAT ANGULAR SIMILAR SECTIONS FORMED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER ANDHAVING THEIR INNER EDGES SPACED APART A SECOND PORTION EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY FROM THE SURFACES OF EACH OF THE FIRST MENTIONED ANGULARSECTIONS AND ON THE INSIDE OF THE POST FOR RECEIVING MEANS FOR RETAININGA HOLDING ELEMENT FOR THE SAID SIDE MEMBERS, THE TOP AND BOTTOM HAVE ADOWNWARDLY AND UPWARDLY TURNED PORTION ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE PERIMETERSAND A PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE UPWARDLY TURNED PORTIONS OFTHE BOTTOM AND THE DOWNWARDLY TURNED PORTIONS OF THE TOP ADAPTED TO LIEADJACENT THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE SECOND EXTENDED PORTION OF THE POSTAND ATTACHED THERETO FOR SUPPORTING THE TOP AND BOTTOM FROM THE POST.